Communication switchgear unit with busbar assembly

ABSTRACT

A switchgear and control unit with a communications capability is provided that includes a bus system with a power bus, and can easily be expanded allowing connection to the power bus with protection against direct contact. The switchgear and control unit is provided with a modular support having an integrated, modular bus system. Connections to a power bus section are arranged in a guide shaft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a switchgear unit with a communicationscapability for connection to a bus system which contains a power bus, adata bus as well as at least one auxiliary power bus. The switchgearunit, which is used for operational switching and protection of a load,includes a support and an assembly that can be mounted on this support.A bus system can be inserted into the support, and the assembly makescontact with the bus system after mounting on the support.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A switchgear unit is described in European Patent No. 0 753 916, whichrelates to a load feeder. The power bus, the data bus and the auxiliarypower bus in this case are routed as a busbar in the base part of theload feeder, once the latter has been installed in the cubicle. Thismeans that, for installation, it must be clear from the start whichswitching devices are to be provided at what point in the cubicle. Theconventional busbar adapter system is used for connection of a motorfeeder and has on its upper face top-hat section rails onto which acontact and/or a power breaker can be snapped. The busbar adapter systemcontains a trough that is composed of a base part and a trough upperpart. Retaining elements for holding bus bars are provided in the basepart. The trough upper part contains openings, which are protectedagainst direct contact at the front, and which, the contacts on anadapter upper part can be passed in order to make contact with the busbars. This is done by hooking the adapter in, and pivoting it intoplace.

A switch gear unit with a communications capability is described in PCTPublished Patent Application No. WO 96/42188, which provides simpleadaptation and contact with switching devices, in conjunction with theelectronics required for data communication, for a cubicle with a databus. The switchgear unit includes an equipment base to which a pluralityof switching devices can be adapted via a standard profiled rail, aswell as a communications unit, which is held on the equipment base andhas plug contacts via which the switching devices are actuatedelectrically. The switchgear unit may include, for example, a contactand/or a power breaker. If a further switching device is required, theequipment base is expanded by adding an equipment base expansion part.

Main power connections for connection to a three-phase busbar system arelocated on the rear wall of the equipment base of the switchgear unit.The switchgear unit is simultaneously held and made contact with bybeing hooked in on the bus bars. The data is transmitted to theelectronics in the communications module via a bus connector orinsulation-displacement contact with a bus line, directly at thecommunications module.

In the case of automation devices, and as described in European PatentNo. 0 236 711, it is conventional for mounting racks to be used foradaptation of input/output assemblies. The mounting racks can be snappedonto supporting rails and can be connected to one another via additionalcontrol lines. In this case, the mounting racks are designedindividually as modular mounting racks having a matching circuit. Aconnecting block for the external wiring is mechanically connected toeach mounting rack. The connecting block and mounting rack can beconnected to the individual assemblies via a plug connection.

In this case, the matching circuit is in the form of a circuit board inthe mounting rack. Female connecting strips for connection to maleconnections on the input/output assemblies are arranged on the circuitboard.

The modular mounting racks are connected to one another via a maleconnector strip which, connected to the circuit board, is connected viaa ribbon cable to which, for its part, a female connector strip isconnected. The electrical connection to the male connector strip on theadjacent mounting rack can be made via this female connector strip. Themounting racks can be connected to one another, side-by-side, by hookingtabs, which project at the sides, into recesses of matching design inthe enclosures of the mounting racks. The electrical connection is madeindependently of this. German Patent Application No. 197 34 709describes a switchgear system having a power bus of modularconstruction. In this case, a plurality of switching devices areoperated via the same power feeder. To do this, each switching devicehas an associated power bus module, which in each case has a power bussection via which the associated switching device can be electricallyconnected to the power feeder. In this case, the power bus sections areconnected to one another to form a continuous distribution rail. Thepower feeder can be connected at least to one of the power bus sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a switchgear andcontrol unit that has a communications capability, can be expanded withlittle effort including the required bus system, and at the same timeallows simple installation and disassembly while maintaining theprotection against direct contact during connection to the power bus.

In this case, the configuration of the support as a modular base lowerpart with an integrated modular bus system makes it possible to expandthe support system as required, while at the same time lengthening thebus system, in a single operation. This modular design allows aswitchgear system to be constructed that is matched to the desired scopeat that time, with only those components which are absolutely essentialbeing used. This achieves a considerable cost saving.

The arrangement of the connections on the power bus section in a guideshaft, which at the same time centers the assembly on the base lowerpart for mounting and while making contact carries out the functions ofmechanical and electrical connection in one operation. In this case, therequired protection against direct contact is achieved by the positionof the connections on the power bus section in the guide shaft. Thisresults in safe connection and release of the connections to the powerbus section, which generally has voltages of more than 100 V applied toit.

An advantageous embodiment of the present invention is obtained if theassembly is coupled to the base lower part in such a manner that partialloosening of the assembly with simultaneous disconnection of the contactwith the control bus section is possible, while maintaining theconnections to the power bus section.

Specifically, the early disconnection of the connections for the databus section means that the contacts of the switchgear unit are opened,thus ensuring operational disconnection of connected loads from thepower bus in all cases. This also ensures that, when the assembly isfinally detached with the plug contacts to the power bus beingwithdrawn, this process is carried out only in a non-live state.

The coupling of the assembly is advantageously provided by a jointand/or rotating mechanism.

It is also advantageous for the base lower part to be composed of asupport with the guide shaft and a module which can be coupled to it.This modular construction makes it possible to coupleapplication-specific modules to it, that is to say to match theconfiguration to the actual requirements, while minimizing the costinvolved. For the configuration to provide a load feeder, the module isdesigned as a power bus module.

A further advantage is obtained if the support is designed with anattachment element which, when operated, allows the support to belatched simultaneously on a standard profiled rail and a further supportarranged in a row, in one operation.

This design contributes to a low level of installation and disassemblyeffort, which is a major advantage with respect to commissioning andexpansion, as well as testing of the switchgear and control unit.

A particularly cost-effective design is obtained if the attachmentelement is designed as a spring-loaded slide with a latching tab forlatching to the standard profiled rail and latching element for lockingto a further support arranged in a row.

This represents a solution with a low level of parts complexity, whichis advantageous in terms of the cost for production and storage. Inorder to withdraw the assembly from the support, it is advantageous ifthis assembly can be withdrawn from the base lower part via a pullingelement on its front face. This allows simple, single-handed disassemblyto be achieved with a compact configuration of a plurality of switchgearand control units alongside one another.

Further options for matching the switchgear unit to the respectivesystem requirements are obtained if, on its connection side, which isintended for adaptation of the assembly, the support has recesses foraccommodating contact inserts for bus expansion via which the modularbus system can be expanded, and plug inserts can be inserted into theassembly. The connection side of the plug inserts is suitable forconnection to the contact inserts.

The present invention allows, optimization of the cubicle constructionwhile at the same time including low-voltage switchgear in theautomation process. The following specific tasks relating to this may berealized:

minimizing space in the cubicle,

reducing the installation cost,

simplifying the installation work,

reducing the wiring complexity for the control wiring,

reducing the wiring complexity for the main power,

reducing the test effort,

simplifying servicing.

The functions of “mechanical attachment/control wiring of the switchgear/main power feeder, distribution and outgoers/switching andprotection of loads/commissioning and servicing” for groups of loadfeeders are considered and optimized for this purpose.

The solution includes a modular system which allows cubicles to beconstructed simply by joining components together. The modularconstruction allows a switchgear system to be constructed with theactually required scope, thus resulting in a considerable cost saving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a modular load feeder with a support and power bus modulein an installed state.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the modular load feeder from FIG. 1 in anuninstalled stated.

FIG. 3 shows a view of an underneath of a feeder assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a load feeder in an installed state.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a load feeder with a feeder assembly,disconnected from the data bus and in a pre-latched position.

FIG. 6 shows a support, latched on a standard profiled rail, of the loadfeeder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 shows two mechanically and electrically connected base lowerparts of the load feeders shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The modular, expandable load feeder 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes,according to FIG. 2, a base lower part 2 and a feeder assembly 3, whichcan be mechanically and electrically adapted to it. The feeder assembly3 contains an intermediate support 4 as well as a contact or 5, mountedon it, and a power breaker 6.

The base lower part 2 essentially comprises an L-shaped support 7 with aguide shaft 8, to which a power bus module 9 is coupled. A control bussection is integrated in the support 7 and, for example, optionallyincludes a data bus section 20 as well as an auxiliary power bus section21, both of which have associated connecting means 10,11 and matingconnecting means 12, 13 which are accessible on both sides of thesupport 7 and are in this case configured as blades on the one side andas sockets on the other side. A female connector strip 14 is provided onthe top of the support for connection of the feeder assembly 3 to thedata bus section 20, and female connector strips 15 and 16 are providedfor connection to the auxiliary power bus sections 21.

The power bus module 9 includes the power bus sections 22 via which themain power is passed to a load, which can be connected to the loadfeeder 1. The connection to the power bus sections 22 is made via plugcontacts 23, which are located in the guide shaft 8, but cannot be seenhere. The front face of the support 7 has recesses 24 in which contactinserts 25 can be inserted, as required. These can make contact withplug inserts 26, which can likewise be inserted retrospectively on thefeeder assembly 3, for example for actuating auxiliary switches on thefeeder assembly 3.

The feeder assembly 3 has a channel 27, which forms a positive lock withthe guide shaft 8 and in this case has a rectangular cross section, andin which mating plug contacts 28 are located in order to make contactwith the plug contacts 23 in the guide shaft 8. The guide shaft 8 isthus simultaneously used for centering for mechanical adaptation of thefeeder assembly 3 on the base lower part 2, and for electricalconnection to the power bus section 22.

The position of the plug contacts 23 and of the mating plug contacts 28in the guide shaft 8 and channel 27, respectively, ensures the requiredprotection against direct contact with the high operating voltages ofmore than 100 V in the main power circuit.

FIG. 3 shows a view from underneath of the intermediate support 4, whichis designed in an L-shape matched to the support 7 of the base lowerpart 2, and includes the channel 27 with the mating plug contacts 28.The blade contacts 30 and 31, which are used to make contact with theauxiliary power bus sections 21, as well as the contact strip 32 forconnection to the data bus section 20 are located on the lower face.Coding elements 33 on the intermediate support 4 and correspondingcoding elements 34 on the base lower part (see FIG. 2) allow specificequipment configurations to be connected and prevent others from beingconnected. The control inserts 26 can be incorporated in a slot 35 onthe lower face of the intermediate support 4.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the load feeder 1 in the adapted state withcontact made, in which a latching spring 36 on the guide shaft 8 locksthe feeder assembly 3 to the base lower part 2 with respect to pulling.These can be detached upwards via a latching hook 37 on the feederassembly 3. To do this, once the latching hook 37 has been operated, thefeeder assembly 3 is moved to a pre-latched position shown in FIG. 5. Inthis pre-latched position, the connection for the control and data bussection 20 is disconnected. A rotary movement to the pre-latchedposition results in the feeder assembly 3 pressing the latching spring36 back, this canceling the lock against pulling on the base lower part2. Once this has been done, the feeder assembly 3 can be withdrawn fromthe base lower part 2 via a pulling element 17 on the front face of thefeeder assembly 3, as shown in FIG. 1. The rotary movement is achievedby utilizing the material characteristics and/or a joint and rotatingmechanism, which, according to FIG. 2, can be provided by a physicalstamping on the enclosure of the feeder assembly 3, for example via aslot 38 in the intermediate support 4. This at the same time provides aspring element stamping and moving (rotary movement) the feeder assembly3 back into position. Instead of the rotary movement, the contact withthe control bus section 20, 21 can also be released by releasing thefeeder assembly 3 to the pre-latched position.

FIG. 6 shows a support 7, which is latched on two standard profiledrails 39, of a base lower part 2. The guide shaft 8 of the support 7 isprovided with a contour 40 for coupling various fitting elements, forexample a power bus module 9 as shown in FIG. 2 or other modules withspecial functions, such as brakes, thermistor protection, etc. A slide41 is fixed to the support 7, preloading a compression spring 42, viawhich slide 41 provides that the coupling to the standard profiled rails39 and the locking to a further base lower part 2 arranged in a row,takes place in one operation. To do this, the slide 41 is provided withlatching tabs 43 in order to latch behind the standard profiled rails39, and on the upper face with two webs 44 which latch behind thelatching hooks 45 on the side wall of a base lower part 2 arranged in arow.

FIG. 7 shows two base lower parts 2 which are latched on standardprofiled rails 39 and are locked with respect to one another, via whichpermanent wiring is constructed in a modular fashion. The actualfunctional assemblies, for example the feeder assemblies 3, makeelectrical contact with the entire bus system in conjunction with themechanical adaptation on the base lower parts 2. This results inconsiderable simplification of configuration, installation,commissioning, and in the required tests.

What is claimed is:
 1. A switchgear unit with a communicationscapability for connection to a bus system, the bus system including apower bus, a control bus, and at least one auxiliary power bus, theswitchgear unit being used for operational switching and protection of aload, the switchgear comprising: a support, the bus system beinginsertable into the support, the support being a modular base lower partincluding an integrated modular bus system in the form of a power bussection and a control bus section, connections to the power bus sectionbeing arranged in a guide shaft; and an assembly mountable on thesupport, the assembly making contact with the bus system after mountingon the support, the guide shaft centering the assembly on the modularbase lower part.
 2. The switchgear unit according to claim 1, whereinthe base lower part further includes a data bus section and an auxiliarypower bus section.
 3. The switchgear unit according to claim 1, whereinthe assembly is coupled to the base lower part so that partial looseningof the assembly with simultaneous disconnection of contact with thecontrol bus section is possible while maintaining the connections to thepower bus section.
 4. The switchgear unit according to claim 3, furthercomprising: at least one of a joint and a rotating mechanism couplingthe assembly to the base lower part.
 5. The switchgear unit according toclaim 1, wherein the modular base lower part includes the support, theguide shaft and a module coupled to the guide shaft.
 6. The switchgearunit according to claim 5, wherein the module includes a power busmodule.
 7. The switchgear unit according to claim 1, wherein the supportincludes an attachment element wherein, in one operation the attachmentelement allows the support to be latched simultaneously on a standardprofiled rail and a further support, the standard profiled rail and thefurther support being arranged in a row.
 8. The switchgear unitaccording to claim 7, wherein the attachment element is a spring-loadedslide with a latching tab for latching to the standard profiled rail anda latching element, the latching element for locking to the furthersupport.
 9. The switchgear unit according to claim 1, wherein theassembly is equipped as a feeder assembly, the assembly including atleast one of a contact and a power breaker.
 10. The switchgear unitaccording to claim 1, wherein the assembly includes at least one of acontact and an overload relay.
 11. The switchgear unit according toclaim 1, wherein the assembly includes a pulling element arranged on afront face of the assembly, the assembly being removable from themodular base lower part using the pulling element.
 12. The switchgearunit according to claim 1, wherein the support has a connection side foradaptation of the assembly, the connection side of the support havingrecesses for accommodating contact inserts, the bus system beingexpandable via the contact inserts, plug inserts being insertable intothe assembly, a connection side of the plug inserts being suitable forconnection to the contact inserts.